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Story & photos by Deborah Loeb Bohren

Vibrant multicolored vegetables, tender sweetbreads, melt in your mouth Mediterranean bonita, sublimely seasoned rock octopus, deliciously decadent cherry clafouti. These are just some of the tantalizing tastes awaiting you this summer as the dynamic trio behind The Paris Pop Up — British chef Harry Cummins, Canadian sommelier Laura Vidal and fellow Canadian Julia Mitton — bring their unique bistro meets gastronomic style, creativity and joie de vivre to Arles for “A summer in Provence” pop up restaurant.

The idea of a popup restaurant was conceived by Cummins and Vidal when they worked together at Frenchie Restaurant in Paris as they pondered how to combine their love of food, wine and desire to own their own restaurant, with their perpetual desire to travel. Their solution: to “take over” otherwise closed kitchens for a night, a few days or a few weeks and make them their own. Over the last two and a half years, they have popped up around the globe from Paris, Fez, London and Barcelona, to Québec, Montréal, New York City, Oakland and Kyoto. They focus intensely on locally sourced foods and wines, as well as local traditions, to inspire their menus, and even their cocktails pay homage to their their momentary local environs.

In Arles the epicenter of their adventure is the kitchen of the historic and world-renowned Grand Hotel Nord Pinus. Here they serve up their specialities in both the hotel dining room and bar, as well as on the outdoor terrace in the charming Place du Forum, immediately adjacent to the hotel. Diners have the option of a prix-fix menu or choosing from a variety of small plates, each perfect for sharing. Of course, there are also a wonderful assortment libations – original cocktails and local wines and beers – to compliment the sumptuous food.

So if you find yourself in Arles this summer be sure to pop in to the Paris Pop Up (email theparispopup@gmail.com for reservations), meet the amazing team behind the restaurant and let them guide you through the menu for a meal you will remember long after you’ve returned home. And if you miss them in Arles, you can keep track of their global wanderings at www.theparispopup.com/en.